Qing Ming -- Part 2

Arranging paper offerings to be burned

         In the last post, we were still in the Chinese graveyard.  The family had cleaned and decorated the grave and laid out the food offerings for the spirit of the deceased man.  While he (or maybe "it") was eating the feast, the family busied itself making a big pile of paper offerings.  These were replicas of things the spirit might need in the afterworld -- lots of things!  

Bringing paper ingots

      They were brought in on a motorbike and in big boxes. The base of the pile was folded foil paper, meant to be gold and silver ingots.  Then the family members fanned out stacks and stacks of that same joss paper and spread it all over the pile.  On top of that, they placed paper shoes, about two dozen paper shirts, some with really nice tropical patterns.  More fake money went on the pile, and then they set it ablaze.  In minutes all the items they'd so lovingly piled up were nothing but ashes. Poof!  Gone to the underworld or afterlife or wherever this man's soul is residing.

The whole family helps lay out the paper offerings

Up in smoke -- the last of the graveyard rituals

  

Paper shoes -- men's and ladies'

      Then, our little group was taken to an area of George Town where several shops were selling all those paper replicas that  are burned on the graves.  We were entranced by all the different paper things you could buy.  There were cosmetics and alcohol. (I bought some paper beer in cans and bottles to use as souvenirs when I travel next week.) There were birthday cakes -- who knew that spirits continue to age even after the person dies! There were even paper lawn chairs for spirits who want to relax in Heaven.


    The last stage of our outing was to a family workshop where they make really big paper houses, also destined to be burned. They come complete with luxury cars and servants.  In fact, when people order the effigy houses, they specify how many maids should be in them and pay for each one.  

These paper house effigies are almost like doll houses.  In these photos, you see the master of the house outside standing next to his shiny paper car.  Inside, is the lady of the paper house, sitting at her paper table, with a picture of a Chinese goddess behind her.  It just about breaks your heart to think that such expensive handmade works are just going to be burned.

   I think these paper items are just great!  Someone should make a museum display of them.  If I had enough space in my non-paper house, and lots of money, I'd buy one of these and keep it as a souvenir of Malaysia.  I'd save it from a fiery grave!